During the summer months when work is less taxing, I like to look through my older books on brain-based learning to remind myself of what some of the early researchers had to say. I am surprised by how often I find ideas and tools I had forgotten to keep in my current ways of doing things.Here is an early summer look at some old books and good ideas:The Accelerated Learning Handbook by Dave MeierAccelerated learning is one form of brain-compatible education that you don't hear much … [Read more...]

This post focuses on the impact of good nutrition on behavior and learning. After spending only an hour researching the topic I found hundreds of studies and articles focused on the positive connections between well-fed students and their abilities to focus, self regulate and succeed in school. Given the volumes of evidence, it is astounding to me that most students are still given foods that are high in simple carbohydrates and filled with chemicals.Well, maybe not astounding. It makes sense. … [Read more...]

Contributed by Dr. Rachel Kramer*
Research shows that there is a strong link between a girls socio-emotional competence and their chance of success and performance in learning, and educators must equip themselves with methods that they can employ in the classroom to encourage and support this type of development in girls.
The following are strategies that can be employed now by educators to support girls:
1. Build a sense of self-efficacy, encourage problem so … [Read more...]

Charter Schools in the Public School System
In Massachusetts, there are more than 45,000 students on waiting lists for the state’s 68 charter schools (source). Clearly, there’s interest and demand.In Boston, Mayor Thomas Menino and Superintendent Carol Johnson have embraced Horace Mann Charter Schools as a promising method of school reform. While traditional charter schools compete with public school districts for students and funds, Horace Mann Charters are part of the district. Teachers rem … [Read more...]

Ken Haynes, former public school teacher and current specialist in the emerging field of digital education, participated in a NISCE professional conversation held at Boston Green Academy. This group had a round-table discussion exploring the concept of ‘student-centered education,’ and Ken shared his varied experiences in creating effective learning environments in a variety of settings. He offered the following thoughts in response to questions drawn from that conversation.You were a teacher i … [Read more...]

Eighth-grader Jonah Mowry posted this extraordinary personal video on bullying and suicide, What’s Goin’ On, on YouTube last December. His video has been viewed over a ten million times and has generated more than 350,000 comments
Jonah's video can help schools, families and parent-teacher organization begin a conversation on on issues of bullying and acceptance, and his courage and honesty can be an inspiration to us all. … [Read more...]

With over 13 million kids bullied this year, making it the most common form of violence that young people experience, educators, parents, students and advocates need to be given resources and voices to address the epidemic.On Wednesday, April 25th at Dearborn Academy in Arlington, MA the National Institute for Student-Centered Education (NISCE) will be hosting a roundtable discussion with parents, educators, and students on Fostering Empathy and Action.Participants will discuss the hard qu … [Read more...]

There is a range of alternative schools within schools, substantially separate schools,therapeutic day schools, residential schools, specialized private schools, and schools with intense behavior modification programs that may be of immeasurable value for appropriately identified students. In most such settings, the level of adult supervision and adult decision-making will be great when compared with the mainstream. Creating a healthy student-centered perspective will take on broader … [Read more...]

The New Learning Institute films look specifically at ways in which school leaders and educators are testing and proving project-based models for a new, student-centered model of learning.This collection—which includes profiles of school innovators David "T.C." Ellis, Jean Johnson, and Larry Rosenstock, as well as a profile of school architect Randall Fielding—explores collaborative, creative, multi-disciplinary approaches to engaging students. Each leader has developed personalized, proje … [Read more...]

James L. Applegate, the Vice President for Program Development at the Lumina Foundation, discusses the development of the Foundation’s funding programs supporting achievement of Lumina’s “Big Goal” of dramatically increase educational attainment in the US, especially for low-income, first-generation, minority and adult students.That work includes strategic implementation of effective practices and policies supporting increases in the number of prepared students entering higher education, the nu … [Read more...]

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NISCE publishes a series of white papers on the challenges and benefits of student-centered education. Download free pdfs of our latest white papers here. Interested in working with us on a white paper? Email twilson@nisce.org. Thanks.